ISSN: 1546-962X
CODEN: JAIOAD
Published Online: 29 July 2010
Page Count: 4

Skiing and Snowboarding Injuries in the Czech Republic in Winter Seasons 2003–2008

Rokyta, Jan
Litvínov,

Chlad, Rudolf
Horská služba ČR, Boží Dar,

(Received 31 October 2009; accepted 2 July 2010)

Abstract

The goal of our observation was to evaluate the trends in the number and anatomic location of injuries sustained during downhill skiing, snowboarding, and cross-country skiing during the six seasons between 2003 and 2008 in the major skiing areas in the Czech Republic. There is a total of 33 skiing areas in the Czech Republic with a total ski slope length of 350 km and an hourly capacity of 300,000 people. The total number of injuries per season is around 5500, with the majority of the injured being men. An increase in the prevalence of upper extremity and snowboarding injuries was observed, as well as a decrease in the prevalence of head injuries and all sustained during cross-country and downhill skiing. A surprising discovery was that the overall injury rate was ∼1.0 injury/1000 skier or snowboarder days and 0.1 injury/1000 cross-country skier days.

Keywords:
skiing in Czech, mountain rescue service, head injury, upper extremity injury

Paper ID: JAI102823
DOI: 10.1520/JAI102823
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